Norfolk, VA September 7, 2017- The ARDX Foundation is honored to have Karen E. Osborne, philanthropist and author of “Getting It Right,” keynote this year’s 10th Annual Women’s Wellness Celebration held on Friday, October 20, 2017 at the Chesapeake Conference Center.

“We are thrilled to have Karen as this year’s 10th Annual Women’s Wellness Celebration Luncheon Keynote,” states Penny Sanchez, Executive Director for the ARDX Foundation. “Her passion of storytelling to depict her extraordinary journey to mental wellness is absolutely captivating, and one I know our attendees will be inspired by.”

​In her recently acclaimed novel, “Getting It Right,” which was declared a “2017 summer must-read” by Essence Magazine, this novel explores grit and resilience, evolving definitions of race and family, and the ultimate power of redemption and forgiveness.

For forty-two years, like her protagonist Kara in “Getting It Right,” Karen suffered the consequences of childhood sexual abuse, before finding a therapist who helped navigate her healing journey. During these years of gut-wrenching work, Karen freed secrets and worked through their aftermath. Along the way, she met dozens of other survivors and explored their narratives, motivations, successes, and setbacks – ultimately learning the restorative power of generosity, gratitude, redemption, and forgiveness.

Held on Friday, October 20, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Chesapeake Conference Center, the conference will kick-off with an opening reception breakfast, followed by empowering breakout sessions, an inspirational luncheon featuring keynote speaker Karen E. Osborne, and an exhibitor expo showcasing various wellness resources available within our community.

“The ARDX Foundation has a vision to improve the health and well-being of some of our most vulnerable citizens – women, children, and the elderly,” states Michelle S. Butler, TowneBank Senior Vice President. “TowneBank is supporting the ARDX Foundation in this vital outreach by being the Conference Sponsor for this year’s 10th Annual Women’s Wellness Conference.”

For more information on this year’s conference and to register, please visit www.ardxfoundation.org. As a previous WWC attendee simply stated, “It is almost impossible to put into words the feeling you will have during and after the conference – it was indeed life changing,” M. Jenkins.

About ARDX Foundation

Shining a Light on Mental Wellness

At the ARDX Foundation, our goal is to shine a light on the importance of mental and behavioral wellness and to serve as advocates, partners, educators, mentors, and change agents. We believe in the power of volunteer service and are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable populations, including women, youth, and the elderly living in disadvantaged communities.

We are committed to creating initiatives and providing resources that transform the lives of women and their families, enabling them to make their own mental wellness a top priority.

The ARDX Foundation is inspired by the work of ARDX President and CEO Angela D. Reddix, a strong advocate for and the founder of numerous community outreach programs.

About TowneBank

When TowneBank was founded in 1999, a core part of its mission was to promote the social, cultural and economic well-being of the community. The bank opened with just three locations. Today, TowneBank has grown to 37 offices with $8.2 billion in assets. As TowneBank Chairman and CEO, Bob Aston shares, “Serving others and enriching lives represents the foundation of all that we do here at Towne.” Since 1999, TowneBank and the TowneBank Foundation have generously contributed $42.5 million in cumulative community support.

About Karen E. Osborne

Karen is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. She founded The Osborne Group, a philanthropy and organizational management consulting firm, now run by her son, Robert Osborne, Jr.

​Awarded for excellence as a motivational speaker and trainer, she is the recipient of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s Crystal Apple for public speaking and the Ashmore Award for Outstanding Service. Karen serves on the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Board.